
South Florida Capital & Development Forum Agenda
Thursday, October 15th, 2026
8:00 AM: Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM: Opening Keynote
Speakers

KEYNOTE
russell galbut
Co-Founder & Managing Principal, Crescent Heights
Founder & Chairman, GFO

MODERATOR
thomas f. coyle
Partner
Greenspoon Marder LLP
9:25 AM: Mapping South Florida: The Neighborhoods and Submarkets Leading Growth
From Miami Beach to West Palm Beach, and everywhere in between, the South Florida region is being transformed through population growth, infrastructure investments, corporate expansion and lifestyle preferences. Developers and investors are tapping into cities and emerging neighborhoods poised for growth and long-term upside. Hear which submarkets are attracting investments, what differentiates winning locations, and why they’re positioned for the next wave of development.
Speakers

tony fineman
Senior Managing Director, Head of Originations
ACORE Capital

alexis leal
Head of Florida
Shawmut Design & Construction

dayssi olarte de kanavos
President & COO
Flag Luxury Group

zack simkins
Managing Director
Vaster

MODERATOR
david scharf
Partner & Chair of the Executive Committee; Chair, Government Strategies & Controversies
Morrison Cohen
9:55 AM: Capital Rewired: How Top Deals are Getting Done
With capital remaining selective, the most attractive deals are winning financing. What does it take to stand out in an increasingly competitive market? Learn how today’s most prominent developers, lenders, and investors are structuring deals and sourcing equity, and get executive insights on the strategies behind South Florida’s most notable deals.
Speakers

adi chugh
Chairman & CEO
TYKO Capital

Adam Falk
Principal & Co-Porftolio Manager
BH3 Fund Advisors

jordan kornberg
Chief Investment Officer
Mast Capital

greg newman
Senior Managing Director, Originations
Bank OZK

mitch sinberg
Senior Managing Director, Mortgage Banking
Berkadia

MODERATOR
brian M. Cohen
Director & Chair of New York Real Estate
Goulston & Storrs
10:30 AM: Networking Break
10:45 AM: Keynote
Speakers

KEYNOTE
jonah sonnenborn
Senior Managing Director, Head of Real Estate
Access Industries

MODERATOR
Samantha ahuja
Co-Chair
Greenberg Traurig
11:10 AM: Distinguishing Yourself from the Pack: Lifestyle-Driven Developments & Standing Out in a Competitive Market
As competition intensifies, developers are being forced to innovate and get creative in order to deliver new value and set themselves ahead of the pack. The result has been a new standard of excellence in design, hospitality-inspired amenities, curated retail, wellness offerings, and memorable placemaking. Hear how leaders are creating differentiated destinations, securing premium pricing, and building a lasting competitive advantage.
Speakers

erika cajigas
VP, Residential Sales & Marketing
Swire Properties

harvey hernandez
CEO
Newgard Development Group

Christine Martinez de Castro
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
CMC Group

gevorg shahbazyan
Founder & CEO
Starlife Group

aaron stolear
President of Development
13th Floor Investments

MODERATOR
benjamin wilson
Partner, Real Estate
Akerman
11:40 AM: Wall Street South & The New Corporate Corridor
South Florida has evolved from a relocation story into a permanent business destination for financial services, private equity, wealth management, technology, and professional services firms. As companies deepen their presence from Miami Beach up through West Palm Beach, demand for premium office space, luxury housing, and mixed-use environments continues to evolve. Learn what’s driving the region’s commercial and residential growth, and how developers, corporate occupiers, and investors are capitalizing on the region’s growing reputation as a premier business hub.
Speakers

daniah missmar
VP, Development
Related Ross

David Weitz
Co-Founder
Oak Row Equities

heidi wigand
Vice President
Cumming Group

MODERATOR
jimmy morales
Special Counsel
Bilzin Sumberg
12:10 PM – Networking Lunch
1:00 PM: Emerging Asset Classes Driving Top Financings & Investments
Not all sectors and industries are performing equally in today’s market. From luxury residential and branded developments to industrial, hospitality, retail and alternative assets, where are investors placing their biggest bets? Join this expert-led discussion as speakers share the sectors attracting institutional capital, the trends influencing underwriting decisions, and where investors and financiers see the greatest opportunities for growth in the coming years.
Speakers

Merritt etner
Senior Vice President, Market Officer – South Florida
Link Logistics

brett d. forman
Managing Partner
Forman Capital

joe furst
Founder & Managing Principal
Place Projects

marko kazanjian
Senior Managing Director
IPA Capital Markets

mark g. levy
Chief Investment Officer
FRP Holdings
1:30 PM: Condo Coast: Demand, Distress & The Next Wave of Luxury Living
The South Florida condo market continues to capture global attention, but rising costs, evolving buyer expectations, and new regulatory requirements are reshaping the landscape. Learn how developers and financiers are adapting with shifts in demand, where new supply is headed, and which condo projects are winning financing in one of the nation’s most dynamic residential markets.
Speakers

morris betesh
Founder & Managing Partner
Arrow Real Estate Advisors

gil dezer
President
Dezer Development

Genghis Hadi
Founder & Managing Principal
Nahla Capital

aaron kurlansky
Chief Executive Officer
Sheridan Capital

Isaac toledano
Founder & CEO
BH Group

MODERATOR
Zachary G. Darrow
Chairman & CEO
DarrowEverett LLP
2:00 PM: Closing Keynote
Speakers

KEYNOTE
david martin
CEO
Terra

MODERATOR
iris escarrá
Co-Chair
Greenberg Traurig
2:30 PM – Closing Reception: Connect with South Florida’s Power Players
Keep the conversation going after the program and connect with the executive developers, owners, investors, capital providers, and other influential leaders shaping the market’s next chapter for growth. Enjoy refreshments, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while building relationships and exchanging insights in an exclusive Miami Beach setting.

4:00 PM – Event Concludes
Sponsors

ACORE CAPITAL, LP is a leading U.S. commercial real estate debt investment manager with approximately $18 billion of assets under management. ACORE CAPITAL is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, Japan’s largest non-life insurer and one of the world’s top tier global insurance groups. Based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, ACORE CAPITAL originates, acquires, and manages first mortgages, B notes, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity. ACORE CAPITAL’s success has been fueled by its long-standing industry relationships and access to a consistent pipeline of origination opportunities. For more information, please visit www.acorecapital.com.

Akerman is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 700 lawyers across the United States and is
widely recognized as having one of the nation’s premier real estate law practices. Combining
deep industry experience, a strong presence in key markets, and a fully integrated national
platform, the firm delivers strategic counsel on some of the most significant and transformative
real estate matters in the country.
With nearly 150 real estate attorneys and professionals positioned nationwide,,Akerman
represents investors, developers, builders, lenders, retailers, owners, corporate end users, and
other stakeholders across the full spectrum of the real estate industry. The firm’s comprehensive
real estate capabilities span acquisitions and dispositions, financing, leasing, joint ventures, land use, zoning and entitlements, infrastructure, design and construction, environmental and
regulatory matters, renewable energy, permitting and licensing, alcohol beverage licensing,
project incentives, cannabis-related real estate issues, as well as all aspects of the data center
ecosystem.
Akerman provides an integrated legal platform that supports clients throughout the full lifecycle
of their real estate investments and operations. The firm’s multidisciplinary approach draws on
strengths across corporate, tax, litigation, labor and employment, government affairs, bankruptcy
and restructuring, data and technology, healthcare, and intellectual property, ensuring clients receive practical, business-focused counsel tailored to their objectives.

Arrow Real Estate Advisors is a leading capital markets advisory platform specializing in tailored real estate financing solutions for owners, investors, and developers throughout the United States. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in New York City, Arrow leverages a deep network of capital providers to source and structure debt and equity financing across all major property types, including industrial, multifamily, office, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, and special-purpose assets.
Arrow’s team is led by seasoned industry professionals with decades of collective experience in commercial real estate finance. The firm is built on a client-centric ethos that emphasizes strategic thinking, market insight, and results-driven execution, ensuring capital solutions that align with each sponsor’s operational goals and risk profile. Whether arranging permanent mortgages, acquisition and construction financing, refinancing, or joint venture equity, Arrow’s advisors deliver customized strategies backed by rigorous underwriting and deep lender relationships.
With a nationwide footprint, Arrow operates with the agility of a boutique advisory platform and the reach of an established national firm. Its professionals draw on a broad spectrum of market intelligence and capital sources, from regional banks and life companies to debt funds and institutional lenders, to navigate complex capital markets landscapes and secure optimal outcomes for clients.
Committed to excellence and long-term partnerships, Arrow Real Estate Advisors continues to build on its early success, expanding its team and enhancing its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of today’s real estate investors and developers.

Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full-service law firm with over 215 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States. With operations from Miami to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Litigation, and Transactional Services, complemented by the capabilities of a full-service firm.

Founded in 2010, Levy is one of Florida’s leading public relations and communications agencies, with deep expertise in the real estate and hospitality industries. Our success is rooted in strategic storytelling, extensive industry knowledge, and long-standing media relationships that allow us to consistently identify opportunities and deliver meaningful results for our clients.
Under the leadership of Founder and President Jessica Levy, Levy has cultivated a dynamic, forward-thinking team that understands how to navigate an ever-evolving media and communications landscape. With more than two decades of industry experience, Jessica and her team bring a unique ability to anticipate market shifts, uncover compelling narratives, and develop creative strategies that elevate brands and drive visibility.
Levy offers an integrated and strategic approach to public relations, marketing, social media, partnerships, and events. Through established relationships across the U.S. and Latin America, the agency has successfully executed high-impact campaigns that generate meaningful exposure, strengthen brand positioning, and support business growth.
Driven by creativity, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset, Levy develops tailored strategies designed to keep clients ahead of the conversation and positioned for long-term success.

Link Logistics is a leading operator of last-mile industrial real estate and warehouse properties. Established by Blackstone in 2019, Link Logistics supports the delivery of essential goods through a half-billion-square-foot portfolio of modern warehouses across the U.S. By connecting consumption, technology and e-commerce, we play a vital role in how businesses reach their customers. We leverage our scale, proprietary data, and focus on sustainability and power to help customers run smarter operations and deliver value for stakeholders. At the same time, we prioritize our people and communities, making a positive difference where we live and work.

MG Engineering is an MEP/FP consulting engineering firm with more than 35 years of experience in the AEC industry, also providing lighting design, commissioning, sustainability, and technology design services. The firm’s work spans healthcare, education, residential and mixed-use developments, hospitality, corporate interiors, restaurants, retail, and base building infrastructure. MGE has been named one of the top 500 design firms nationwide for over a decade and one of the Best Places to Work in NYC by Crain’s New York.

shawmut Design & Construction

Based in Miami, Florida, Starlife Group is a pioneering force in real estate development, construction and investment. Its expertise spans residential and commercial sectors, as well as comprehensive asset management. Starlife Group is dedicated to transforming spaces and communities through strategic planning, innovative design and a forward-thinking approach. Since its founding, Starlife Group has evolved into a fully integrated real estate powerhouse, overseeing all aspects of development, sales, construction, lending and capital ventures. Its portfolio spans South Florida and Europe and includes large-scale mixed-use developments, luxury spec homes, townhouses and commercial properties. Founder and CEO of Starlife Group and Companies, Gevorg Shahbazyan, was named Young Developer of the Year (2025) by the Red Awards and was recently enrolled in the prestigious Advanced Management Development Program (AMDP) at Harvard Graduate School of Design, an exclusive executive program designed for global leaders in real estate and the built environment. For more information, visit thestarlifegroup.com.

TYKO Capital (“TYKO”) is a multi-billion-dollar Commercial Real Estate Private Equity and Private Credit Investment Management Platform, which is a joint venture between Adi Chugh & a Florida based hedge fund. TYKO was established in August 2023 to capitalize on the void in the CRE capital markets caused by the current macro-economic environment, focusing on institutional borrowers and institutional assets, in top tier markets. TYKO’s focus and reach in the CRE space is unique, given the firm’s proprietary deal sourcing capabilities and ability to commit large amounts of capital to institutional deals.
TYKO invests across the entire capital stack (Senior Financings, Whole Loan Financings, Junior / Mezz, Pref Equity, LP Equity, GP Equity) — and across all asset classes.

Yardi develops and supports industry-leading real estate investment and property management software for all types and sizes of organizations around the globe. The Yardi Investment Suite delivers products that optimize the investment management lifecycle —acquisitions/dispositions, fundraising, investor relations, capital investment, debt management, accounting and reporting, performance measurement and more in a single connected solution. Yardi automates complex ownership structures and investment management processes and provides full transparency from the investor to the investment to the asset. Real Estate Investments grow on Yardi. For more information, visit yardiinvestmentsuite.com.















